Gary Christopher Fisher (born November 5, 1950) is considered one of the inventors of the modern MTB by his role as a pioneer in the sport of Mountain Biking . Fisher started competing in road and track races at age 12. He was suspended in 1968 because race organizers cited a rule that his hair was too long. By 1972 this rule had been repealed and Fisher's career continued. He won the TransAlp race in Europe and a Masters XC national title. (...)

(...)Fisher went to work in 1975 on his 1930s Schwinn Excelsior X bicycle. His innovations to the model included drum brakes, motorcycle brake levers and cables, and triple chainrings, all taken from "junkers" Fisher found at bike shops. The next year, Fisher participated in the Repack downhill race, promoted by his roommate Charlie Kelly. This used a tortuous downhill route on Pine Mountain near Fairfax, California, just north of San Francisco, that riders used their coaster brakes so much that they had to repack the smoking hubs with grease after every run. Fisher holds the record time on the Repack course at 4:22.

in 1979, Fisher and Kelly founded MountainBikes, the first company to specialize in the manufacture of this type of bicycle. Frames were built by Tom Ritchey, who later founded his own company. The first model sold for $US1300; 160 were manufactured in the first year.

1979 saw the introduction of Shimano components and an ill-fated attempt to trademark Mountain Bike. The company dissolved in 1983; Fisher founded Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes the same year. Fisher sold his company in 1991 to Taiwan's Anlen company, staying on as President. In 1992, Howie Cohen, who had previously imported Nishiki, Azuki and Kuwahara bicycles, assisted Gary Fisher with his brand. 18 months later brokering the acquisition of Fisher by Trek Bicycle Corporation.

For those who don’t know, WTB was the first to make a tire that measured 2 inches with knobs for off roading in a 700c format. Gary Fisher was one of the proponents of “The Tire”, (WTB’s Nanoraptor), and now that it was being made, he needed a bicycle to ride that fit them. Gary explained that the concept was to use a tire available in both 26 and 29 inch size that could be compared on two different bikes- one 26 and one 29″er- that were as identical as possible.

A prototype from 1999 with Look_Fournales fork.

Still in 1999, Gary had his bike repainted in a scheme his daughter designed and fitted with a Look Fournales fork with the anti-dive, constant trail linkage. The fork, originally a 26 inch wheeled fork, was modified for Gary by Gary Klein by extending the legs with bonded on aluminum inserts. The fork travel was the same, but at least it didn’t hit the crown ! The bike went through two more re-paints by designer Paul Smith before being retired by 2000. By this time Gary had a Marzocchi fork prototyped to test out with it.

A prototype from 2000 in titanium.

By 2000 Gary was convinced it was a good enough idea to pursue and Trek allowed some prototypes for possible production. Still using technology that was based on other standards, (forks designed with 26 inch wheels in mind and converted Rolf road wheels), Gary could still see merit in the idea and forged ahead with the idea that these big wheeled rigs could be a part of the Fisher mountain bike offerings. These prototypes used Genesis geometry on big wheels for the first time. Also, interestingly enough, a 69er prototype was made to help solve front end geometry issues. The stage was now set to launch the first production 29″er the following year.

In 2001 Gary Fisher Bikes introduced 29″ers to an unsuspecting world. Using specially constructed Marzocchi suspension forks, the idea was slow to take root with riders and especially dealers who were slow to warm up to what was at the time considered to be nothing more than a passing fancy. More models were introduced in 2002, including a full suspension model, but by 2003 things were looking pretty dire for the future of big wheels in the Fisher camp.

In 2006-2007 years, sales of 29″ers at Gary Fisher bikes doubled each year. Then in 2007 Genesis 2, or “G2 Geometry” was introduced for 29″ers and Fox Shox was persuaded to build specially offset forks for 29″ers.

Gary Fisher Bikes was one of the biggest 29″er companies out there.

On June 16, 2010,Trek Bicycle Corporationannounced "the Gary Fisher Collection, a line of Trek bikes that replaced the standalone Gary Fisher brand". Fisher remains involved with design and marketing, along with being scout and mentor to racers sponsored by the team.Note : Gary Klein is known as one of the 3 Garys : proliferators in bicycle design. Gary Turner (GT Bikes) the godfather of BMX, Gary Fisher credited with inventing mountain bikes, and Gary Klein who is credited with much of the aluminum/welding technology used in bicycle manufacturing today.